Polyalkadienes stabilized with dithio-bis(beta-arylalkylene)diphenols

ABSTRACT

The compunds are of the class dithiobis(betaarylalkylene)diphenols and chain-extended polydithio-polyphenols derived therefrom. They are useful as anti-oxidants in compositions containing unsaturated rubbers - that is, so-called diene rubbers. A typical compound of the class is 4,4&#39;&#39;dithiobis(beta-phenylethylene)diphenol, made by the condensation of one mole of bis(beta-chlorophenethyl) disulfide with two moles of phenol. Chain extension is apt to occur by reaction of the first-formed dithio-diphenol with additional amounts of the dichloro coupling agent and the starting phenol, forming poly(dithio) polyphenolic compounds having repeated alternating units of the coupler and phenol moieties.

United States Patent Hageman Oct. 1, 1974 POLYALKADIENES STABILIZED WITH 3,310,587 3/1967 O'Shea 260/4595 DITHI() BIS(BETA 3,530,069 9/1970 ONeill 260/4595 ARYLALKYLEN E )DIPHENOL Inventor: Howard A. Hageman, Southbury,

Conn.

Assignee: Uniroyal Inc., New York, NY.

Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 Appl. No.: 325,292

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 251,723, May 8, 1972, which is a division of Ser. No. 13,749, Feb. 24, 1970, Pat. No. 3,686,325.

US. Cl 260/4535 C, 260/457 S, 260/608,

260/799 Int. Cl C086 13/08, C08d 11/04 Field of Search 260/4595 C, 45.7 S, 799

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1943 McCleary et al. 260/4595 2/1966 Van Schotten 260/4595 Primary Examiner-Donald E. Czaja Assistant ExaminerEugene C. Rzucidlo Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Willard R. Sprowls. Esq.

[5 7] ABSTRACT 3 Claims, N0 Drawings POLYALKADIENES STABILIZED WITH DITHIO-BIS(BETA-ARYLALKYLENE)DIPHENOLS This is a division of application Ser. No. 251,723, filed May 8, 1972, which in turn. is a division of application Ser. No. 13,749, filed Feb. 24, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,325.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to new phenolic compounds useful as stabilizers or antioxidants, to a method of making them, and to diene rubber compositions containing effective amounts of these stabilizers.

In the past, various highly hindered monophenols and diphenols having alkyl substituents ortho to the phenolic hydroxyl groups have been used as antioxidants. Some of these have had sulfur atoms linking two phenol rings either directly, as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,099,639 and 3,114,713, or through methylene bridges, as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,310,587 and 2,322,376, or through trimethylene groups, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,234,177. In my U.S. application, Ser. No. 807,956, filed Mar. 17, 1969, I have described and claimed 4,4-thiobis-(betaarylalkylene )diphenols SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 1 have discovered a new class of polyphenols wherein phenol rings are linked together by dithiobis-(betaarylalkylene) radicals containing the essential structural grouping:

The new compounds accordingly are characterized by containing the essential skeletal structure:

aryl aryl thus having each of two carbon atoms, beta to a dithio group, joined to two aromatic groups of which only one is phenolic. In many of the new products the beta,beta'- diaryldithio-dialkylene and phenolic ring configuration is repeated a number of times, yielding poly( dithio)- polyphenols of higher chain length and higher molecular weight.

DETAILED EXPOSITION OF THE INVENTION My new compounds may be designated as bislbeta- (hydroxyaryl)-beta-arylalkyl] disulfides, or preferably as dithiobis-(beta-arylalkylene)diphenols. having the general formula When n is l, the formula reduces to that of a dithio diphenol compound? The simplest member of the class is 4,4-dithiobis- (beta-phenylethylene)diphenol:

The new compounds are generally obtained as clear. pale yellow to brown, brittle resins which sinter in the range 40-60C. The products derived from phenols containing large alkyl groups as substituents, however, generally consist of viscous brown liquids.

That my products have the phenol nuclei linked to the coupling structure at ring carbon atoms, and are not phenol ethers, is clearly demonstrated by their infrared spectra, which show strong absorption at a frequency of 3600 cm which is characteristic of a phenolic hydroxyl group. In the case of my products made from the simpler phenols, the solubility of the products in aqueous alkali also demonstrates the presence of phenolic hydroxyl.

That my relatively unhindered phenolic compounds have high antioxidant activity is quite unexpected in view of the general consensus that phenolic antioxidants must, in order to be effective, be of the highly i hindered type exemplified by the commercial antioxidant 2,2'-methylenebis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) and the like. I

The relatively unhindered character of several of my new phenols renders them especially advantageous for incorporation in aqueous synthetic rubber latices: being soluble in aqueous alkali, they can be added to such latices as alkaline solutions, and are later coprecipitated with the rubber by the conventional coagulants, to recover the solid rubber containing the antioxidant finely and uniformly dispersed throughout the rubber. The antioxidants may, of course, be incorporated in rubber cements and solid rubbers by conventional milling and other techniques.

Preparation of my new antioxidants is accomplished by interacting a bis(beta-chloro-beta-arylalkyl) disulfide witha phenol having at least one reactive hydrogen on the ring, ortho or para to the hydroxyl. Hydrogen chloride is split off, the hydrogen atoms coming from the phenol nuclei, and, in the simplest form of the reaction, two molecules of the phenol are coupled together by one dithiobis(beta-arylalkylene) radical, to form a dithio diphenol product. This course of reaction is favored by the presence of a considerable excess of the phenol as by mixing five moles of the phenol with one mole of the dichloro coupling agent, and heating the mixture. As the ratio of phenol to dichloro reagent is reduced, chain extension is induced whereby one or both phenol nuclei of the first-formed dithio diphenol compound react with further coupling agent and then with more of the original phenol. The resulting products contain in a chain n units of the dithiobis (betaarylalkylene) coupling structure and n 1 units of the starting phenol, the chain being terminated at both ends by phenol units. These chain-extended products are referred to as poly [dithiobis(beta-aryl alkylene)] polyphenols. The simple, unextended dithiobisphenol product will have a lower sulfur content, higher hydroxyl number, and lower molecular weight than the corresponding products which have undergone chain extension by further reaction with coupler and phenol.

Suitable phenols for use in my reaction are readily chosen, being those known to be readily capable of alkylation. They include the following:

phenol p-isopropylphenol o-cresol o-sec-butylphenol m-cresol o-sec-amylphenol p-cresol o-phenylphenol 2,6-xylenol m-benzyloxyphenol 2,5-xylenol p-methoxyphenol 2,4-xylenol p-(methylthio)phenol 3.5-xylenol catechol alpha-naphthol resorcinol beta-naphthol hydroquinone o-t-butylphenol guiacol p-t-butylphenol 2-t-butyl'p-cresol Y 4-t-butyl-o-cresol o-allylphenol p-nonylphenol o-isopropylphenol m-isopropylphenol 4-t-octylresorcinol t-butylhydroquinone 4,4 '-isopropylidenediphenol 4,4'-oxydiphenol 4,4 -thiodiphe nol 4,4-dithiodiphenol CoHs H5 2. Formation of a polymeric, or chain-extended,zprod- 4'5 0H5 CaHs r Lira @oriI-n 2n HCl The reaction proceeds rapidly in the case of phenol itself, the cresols, and resorcinol, and less readily with the other phenols.

The reaction forming the new phenols of my invention may be accelerated-by the addition of a catalytic amount of a Lewis acid, such as aluminum chloride, to the reaction mixture. This is particularly desirable in the case of mildly hindered phenols such as 2,6-xylenol and Z-tert-butylphenol, with which AlCl is quite effective in promoting the reaction.

Mixtures of phenols may be. used in my reaction in place of a single phenol. Thus, technicalgrades of cresylic acid, which are mixtures of isomeric cresols, may be used.

It is often convenient to use an inert liquid reaction medium in carrying out the reaction of my invention, to keep the reaction mixture'fluid, Often the solvent will be the same one used in preparing the dichloro coupling agent. This is usually a saturated hydrocarbon for example, hexane, cyclohexane, or petroleum ether; or an aromatic hydrocarbon for example, benzene, toluene or xylene. In the case of highly polar phenols such as resorcinol or hydroquinone, it is preferable to use an inert polar solvent, acetonitrile being quite suitable.

The temperature at which my reaction is carried out is not critical. Temperatures in the range from 50 to C. are effective and convenient, and the time required for completing the reaction is generally from 4 to- 24 hours. The reaction is judged to bejcomplete when the generation of hydrogen chloride has ceased.

I then usually subject the reaction-mixture to steam distillation in order to remove, first, the solvent, and then as much of the unreacted phenol as possible.' Vacuum distillation may be used when needed, to remove phenols not volatile with steam. Unreacted phenols may alsobe removed by washing with hot water or by fractional precipitation from suitable mixed solvents.

The bis(beta-chloro-beta-arylalkyl) disulfides, employed as the bifunctional alkylating agent or coupling agent in preparing my new phenolic products, are themselves new compounds. Their preparation has been made possible by my discovery that, under certain conditions, and contrary to the literature (cf. Pope and Smith, in J. Chem. Soc. l922, volume 121, page 1166). sulfur monochloride, S Cl can be made to react with styrene and likearylolefin compounds to form pure bis(2-chloro-2- arylethyl) disulfides, in excellent yield, instead of the monosulfides reported by Pope and Smith. The conditions required for the production of the disulfides are that the styrene (or other arylolefin) be diluted with at least an equal volume of an inert solvent, and that the temperature of the reaction be kept below 45C. Since sulfur monochloride is obtainable in rather high purity, the adducts with arylolefins are obtained in a high degree of purity.

Sulfur monochloride reacts with anjarylolefin in the following sense, using styrene as anexample:

Other arylolefins suitable for use in thisreaction include the following:

alpha-methylstyrene acenaphthalene p-tert-butylstyrene vinyltoluene l.2-dihydronaphthalene anethole l-phenylcyclohexene indene p-chlorostyrene The beta-aryl groups characteristic of my coupling agents accordingly may contain chloro or various hydrocarbon and hydrocarbonoxy substituents.

When bis(beta-chlorophenethyl) disulfide is mixed with a molally large excess of phenol, hydrogen chloride is rapidly evolved and there is formed 4,4- dithiobis-(beta-arylethylene)diphenol. The product is soluble in aqueous alkali, and its infrared spectrum confirms the presence of para-disubstituted benzene rings. When p-cresol is used in place of phenol, the coupling agent enters the ring ortho to the hydroxyl and the resulting bisphenol is too hindered sterically to permit solution in aqueous alkali.

It might be thought that the large amount of hydrogen chloride liberated in the coupling reaction would cause cleavage of the disulfide bond in the product, but such is not the case.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Bis(beta-chloro-beta-arylalkyl) Disulfides EXAMPLE 1 Reaction of Styrene with Sulfur Monochloride To a solution of 208 g. (2.0 moles) of styrene in 200 g. of n-hexane was added 135 g. (1.0 mole) of sulfur monochloride. The temperature of the resulting yellow solution was prevented from exceeding 40C. during the ensuing reaction by intermittent cooling over a period of 4 hours. After standing at room temperature for an additional hours, the mixture had separated into two layers. Upon removal of the hexane in a vacuum rotary evaporator, there was obtained 343 g. of bis(- beta-chlorophenethyl) disulfide as a clear yellow, viscous liquid having the following analysis:

Calcd. for C H CI S C, 56.00; H, 4. Found: C. 56.22; H, 4.

EXAMPLE 2 Reaction of t-Butylstyrene with Sulfur Monochloride The commercial t-butylstyrene employed in this reaction consists of a mixture of 95% p-t-butylstyrene and 5% m-t-butylstyrene.

To a solution of 320 g. (2.0 moles) of t-butylstyrene in 300 g. of n-hexane was added 135 g. (1.0 mole) of sulfur monochloride. During three hours a cold water bath was applied intermittently to prevent the temperature from exceeding 45C. After standing for 24 hours at room temperature, the hexane was removed in a vacuum rotary evaporator. There was obtained 455 g. of bislbeta-chloro-beta-(t-butylphenyl)ethyl] disulfide as a viscous, light amber liquid.

71 Cl, 15.60. 7: S. 14.06 Cl. 15.47; S. l4.65

EXAMPLE 3 Reaction of Vinyltoluene with Sulfur Monochloride Since commercial vinyltoluene consists of a mixture of 60% m-methylstyrene and 40% p-methylstyrene, its reaction product with sulfur monochloride will consist of a mixture of isomeric arylalkyl disulfides.

To a solution of 236g. (2.0 moles) of vinyltoluene in 300 ml. of n-hexane was added 135 g. 1.0 mole) of sulfur monochloride. The resulting clear yellow solution showed no signs of an exothermic reaction until'after standing for 2 to 3 hours, after which the temperature gradually rose to 35C.; the mixture was then cooled to 26C. and occasional cooling was employed over the next 4 hours to prevent the temperature from exceeding 35C. After the exothermic reaction had subsided, the mixture was allowed to stand at room temperature for an additional 18 hours. Removal of the hexane in a vacuum rotary evaporator gave 372 g. of a mixture of isomeric bis(beta-chloro-beta-tolylethyl) disulfides, consisting of a clear yellow, viscous liquid.

Calcd. for C H CLS Found:

EXAMPLE 4 Reaction of lndene with Sulfur Monochloride To a solution of 1 16 g. (1.0 mole) of indene-in 300 ml. of n-hexane was added 67.5 g. (0.50 mole) of sulfur monochloride. After standing at 2628C. for 5 hours, the clear yellow solution gradually warmed to 36C. over a period of 2 hours, as the color of the solution slowly changed from bright yellow to light brown. At the end of 7 hours, the reaction mixture was immersed in a 25C. water bath and allowed to stand for an additional 18 hours. The hexane was stripped from the twophase mixture, leaving 184 g. of 2,2'-dithiobis-lchloroindane as a clear, viscous, brown liquid.

71 S, l7.44 Z S. 17.32

This compound is less stable than that derived from styrene. On standing at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, there takes place an appreciable evolution of hydrogen chloride. Upon being warmed to 80C., the rate of hydrogen chloride evolution becomes quite rapid.

EXAMPLE 5 Reaction of a-Methylstyrene with Sulfur Monochloride To a solution of l 18 g. (1.0 mole) of freshly distilled alpha-methylstyrene in 400 ml. of ether was added 67.5 g. (.50 mole) of sulfur monochloride. During one hour the temperature of the mixture gradually rose from 25C. to 32C., and over the next one-half hour the temperature reached 42C. and the ether refluxed quite rapidly for 20 to 30 minutes. After the exothermic reaction had subsided, the mixture stood at room temperature for 18 hours. Removal of the ether fromthe clear yellow solution gave 186 g. of bis(beta-chloro-betaphenylpropyl) disulfide as a clear yellow oil which slowly liberates fumes of hydrogen chloride on standing at room temperature. 7

Calcd. for C H Cl- S-g 7( S, 17.25 Found: /r S, 17.89

Dithiobis(beta-arylalkylene)diphenols 1 In carrying out the synthesis of the bisphenolic and higher polyphenolic disulfides of this invention, it is not necessary to isolate the intermediate bis(beta-chlorobeta-arylalkyl) disulfides. Generally, it is most convemerit to' carry out the reaction of the alpha-arylolefin with sulfur monochloride in a solvent such as benzene, toluene or xylene and then add to this solution the phenolic compound to be alkylated. The presence of an inert solvent also prevents. the reaction mixture from becoming too viscous for efficient agitation.

EXAMPLE 6 Reaction of Bis(beta-chlorophen'ethyl) 'Disulfide with Phenol I a 1 f HOnly use of a large excess of phenol in this reaction can the product be expected to consist mainly of the bis-phenolic disulfide. As the amount of excess phenol is reduced, the extent to which the initially formed bis-phenolic disulfide is further alkylated by the bischloroarylalkyl disulfide to form higher polyphenolic disulfides is increased. 7

To a solution of 376 g. (4.0 moles) of phenol in 250 ml. of toluene was added 343 g. (1.0 mole) of bis(betachlorophenethyl) disulfide. During one hour this solution was stirred and heated to 50C. This caused the rapid evolution of hydrogen chloride. Stirring was continued for an additional 2 hours as the temperature of the mixture was maintained in the range 50 to 60C. The temperature of the mixture was then raised to 70-75C., where it was maintained for an additional 2 hours. After a further heating at 8085C. for 2 hours, the evolution of hydrogen chloride had subsided. After standing overnight at room temperature, the mixture was subjected to steam distillation to remove the toluene and excess phenol. The distillate gave a negative ferric chloride test for phenol after 4 hours of steam distillation. The 'viscous, molten residue was then heated under vacuum to remove water. After heating to 1 101 15C. under a vacuum of 2-3 mm., the clear molten residue (436 g.) was poured onto aluminum foil. At room temperature the product, bislbeta-( lhydroxyphenyl)phenethyll disulfide, also called 4,4- dithiobis(beta-phenylethylene)diphenol, consists of a clear yellow, brittle resin which is soluble in methanol, acetone, andbenzene, but insoluble inhexane. It is $01- uble in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.

Calc'd. for C l-1 5 Found:

Me]. wL. 458 496 Hydroxyl No.. 244 235 7? 5. 13.97 14.70

EXAMPLE 7 Reaction of Bis(beta-ch1orophenethyl) Disulfide with o-Cresol In this example, a large excess of o-cresol was used in order to obtain only the bis-phenolic disulfide, and no additional solvent was needed.

A mixture of 172 g. (0.50 mole) of bis(betachlorophenethyl) disulfide and 432 g. (4.0 moles) of o-cresol was agitated and heated to 6065C. as hydrogen chloride was rapidly evolved. Over a period of 7 hours the temperature was slowly raised to C. At this stage. the evolution of hydrogen chloride had ceased. Most of the excesso-cresol'was then removed by distillation under aspirator vacuum. The viscousresidue was then subjected to steamdistillation for 5 /2 hours to remove the last traces of o-cresol. The product was then dried by heating slowly to a final temperature of C. under a vacuum of 1.0 mm; After cooling to room temperature, there was obtained 241 g. of bisl(2- (3-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenyl-ethyl] disulfide as a clear yellow, brittle resin which is soluble in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. Though soluble in methanol, acetone and benzene, this product 'is-insolublein' hexane.

3.17; Hydroxyl N0..

Found: 225

EXAMPLE 8 Reaction of 2,2-Dithiobis-l-chloroindane with Phenol A mixture of 183g. (0.50 mole) of 2,2-dithiobis-1- chloroindane and a solution of 141 g. (1.50 moles) of phenol in 300ml. of benzene was warmed to 40C. This caused rapid evolution of hydrogen chloride which continued for about 30 minutes before subsiding. The mixture was then stirred at 50-60C'. for 5 hours to completethe reaction. The mixture was then steamdistilled'for 3 hours to remove the benzene and excess phenol. The'product was then dissolved in ether and separated from the water. Removal of the ether gave 234 g. of 2,2dithiobis-1-(4-hydroxypheny1)indane as a dark brown, brittle resin which readily forms a watersoluble potassium salt when treated with an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide.

Calcd. for C H O S v. 5. 13.27 Found: 7! S. 13.41

EXAMPLE 9 By first reacting 69 g. (0.50 mole) of chlorostyrene with 34 g. (0.25 mole) of sulfur monochloride in hexane, there was prepared 103 g. (0.25 mole) of bislbetach1oro-beta-(chlorophenyl)ethyl] disulfide. This was mixed with 162 g. (1.50 moles) of o-cresol and stirred at 6070C.'for hours. After standing overnight, the reaction mixture was stripped with steam to remove the o-cresol, and then dried by heating under vacuum. There was obtained 136 g. of bislbeta-(3-methyl-4- hydroxyphenyl)-beta-(chlorophenyl)ethyl] disulfide as a clear, amber, brittle resin.

Calcd. for C H CL O S 7: Cl. 12.79; 71 S. Found: 7! Cl. 12.75; 71 S,

EXAMPLE Reaction of Bislbeta-chloro-beta-(t-butylphenyl )ethyl] Disulfide with Phenol The coupling agent used in this example was prepared from commercial t-butylstyrene consisting of 95% of p-t-butylstyrene and 5% of m-t-butylstyrene.

To a solution of 141 g. 1.50 moles) of phenol in 500 ml. of benzene was added 228 g. (0.50 mole) of bislbeta-chloro-beta-(t-butylphenyl)ethyl] disulfide. After this mixture was stirred for 7 hours at 6065C., the evolution of hydrogen chloride was complete. By subjecting this mixture to steam distillation for 4 /2 hours, all of the excess phenol was removed. The viscous residue was dissolved in benzene and separated from the water. The benzene was removed and the residue heated to 1l0115C. for /2 hour under a vacuum of 12 mm. There was obtained 275 g. of 4,4- dithiobis[beta-(t-butylphenyl)ethylene]diphenol as a 7 Nonylphenol was then removed by vacuum distillation at 0.1 to 0.5 mm. and heating the residue gradually to 140C. The residue amounted to 335 g. of 2,2- dithiobis( beta-phenylethylenedi( 4-nonylphenol a clear, amber, tacky resin which is soluble in hexane.

clear, brown, brittle resin which is soluble in methanol,

acetone and benzene, but insoluble in hexane.

% S calcd. for C ,,H O S 1 1.23; found, 1 1.54.

EXAMPLE 1 1 ture of isomeric bis(beta-chloro-beta-tolylethyl) disul-' fides. A mixture of 186 g. (0.50 mole) of these disulfides, with 135 g. (1.25 moles) of meta-para cresols was stirred for 5 hours at 60-70C. The excess cresols were then removed by steam distilling 4 hours. The viscous residue was dissolved in ether and separated from the water. After removal of the ether, the residue was heated to 100-115C. for /2 hour under a vacuum of 2-3 mm. The product consisted of 243 g. of a clear yellow, brittle resin, being a mixture of many isomeric dithiobis( beta-tolylethylene )dicresols.

% SscalCd. for C H O S 12.46; found, 13.50

EXAMPLE 12 Reaction of Bis(beta-chlorophenethyl) Disulfide with p-Nonylphenol The p-nonylphenol used in this example is distilled commercial material prepared by the alkylation of phenol with tripropylene.

% S: calcd. for C H O S 9.01; found, 8.82

EXAMPLE 13 Reaction of Bis(beta-chlorophenethyl) Disulfide with p-t-Butylphenol A mixture of 343 g. (1.0 mole) of bis(betachlorophenethyl) disulfide, 300 g. of toluene and 375 g. (2.50 moles) of p-t-butylphenol was stirred and heated at -80C. for 8 hours. After standing overnight at room temperature, the mixture was subjected to steam distillation for 5 hours to remove the toluene and excess p-t-butylphenol. The viscous residue was then heated under vacuum to remove traces of water. There was obtained 506 g. of a light amber, brittle resin. This is 89% of the theoretical yield (570 g.) of 2.- 2'-dithiobis(beta-phenylethylene)di(4-t-buty1phenol).

% S: calcd for C ,,H O S 1 1.23; found, 12.40

EXAMPLE 14 Reaction of 2,2'-Dithiobis-l-chloroindane with o-t- Butylphenol A mixture of 183 g. (.50 mole) of 2,2'-dithiobis-lchloroindane, 300 ml. of hexane and 187 g. (1.25 moles) of o-t-butylphenol was stirred at 40-50C. for 16 hours as hydrogen chloride was evolved. This mixture was then steam-distilled for 4 hours to remove to the hexane and excess o-t-butylphenol. The viscous residue was then heated under vacuum to remove traces of water. There was obtained 280 g. of 2,2-dithiobis[ 1- (3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)indane], also called 4,4- (2,2-dithiodiindan-l-yl)di(2-t-butylphenol), as a dark brown, brittle resin.

% S: calcd. for C ,,H O S 10.77; found 11.52

EXAMPLE 15 Reaction of Bis(beta-chlorophenethyl) Disulfide with Resorcinol To a solution of 550 g. (5.0 moles) of resorcinol in 600 ml. of acetonitrile was added 686 g. (2.0 moles) of bis(beta-chlorophenethyl) disulfide. While stirring this mixture without heating, there was observed a very rapid evolution of hydrogen chloride. After 3 hours, the reaction mixture was placed under aspirator vacuum and heated, to remove the acetonitrile. During two hours the temperature of the mixture was gradually raised to C. The molten residue was twice extracted with two 500-ml. portions of hot water to remove most of the excess resorcinol. After cooling, the residue was dissolved in ether and the ether solution was extracted three times with 500-ml. portions of water. After removal of the ether there was obtained 838 g. of 4,4- dithiobis(beta-phenylethylene)diresorcinol as a brittle, dark brown resin. When pulverized, it gives a bright yellow powder which fuses in the range 7080C.

% S: calcd. for C H O S 13.06; found, 13.06.

EXAMPLE 16 Reaction of Bis(beta-chlorophenethyl) Disulfide with 2,6-Xylenol A mixture of 343 g. (1.0 mole) of bis(betachlorophenethyl) disulfide, 200 ml. of benzene and 275 g. (2.25 moles) of 2,6-xylenol was stirred at 5055C. for 1 hour. There was no evidence of evolution of any hydrogen chloride. Upon the addition of 1.0 g. of anhydrous aluminum chloride, evolution of hydrogen chloride became rapid. After stirring at 5055C. for an additional l6 hours, the mixture was washed with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid and then subjected to steam distillation for 4 hours to remove the excess xylenol. The product was then dried by heating under vacuum. There was obtained l 3 g. of 4,4-dithiobis(betaphenylethylene)di-2,6-xylenol as a brittle, amber resin which is soluble in aqueous alkali.

728, [2.45; mol.wt., 514; Hydroxyl No., 21

Found:

DESCRIPTION OFv USES THE POLY'PI-IENOLS OF THE INVENTION The polyphenolic disulfide compositions of this invention find utility as effective antioxidants for a variety of elastomers and thermoplastic polymers. Among test methods that are commonly forevaluation of the antioxidant activity are 1. The carbonyldevelopment test, in. which the extent of oxidation of the stabilized material is followed by taking infrared spectra of the sample at intervals during aging of polymer films. [See Bishop, Anal. Chem, 33, 456 (1961)].

- 2. The effect of heat and oxygen upon the Mooney viscosity of the stabilized polymer.

3', The effect of oxidativedegradation of the polymer upon its tensile strength.

Examples of the use of these different test methods are selected here to demonstrate the antioxidant activity of my new polyphenolic disulfide compositions in various elastomers. For convenience in identifying the compounds used in the various tests, the following list is provided, with identifying code designations:

Structure "An isomeric mixture derived from commercial mixed m.p-cresols.

""An isomeric mixture derived from vinyltoluene (a mixture of m-methylstyrene and p-methylsiyrene) and from mixed m.p-cresols.

"'An isomeric mixture derived from a mixture of o-chlorostyrene and 'p-chlorostyrene.

Solution SBR Rubber in the form of a benzene solution of-commercial styrene-butadiene rubber (solution-polymerized SBR) containing 5% of polymer was used in this test. Sufficient amounts of benzene solutions of the compounds to be tested as antioxidants were added to aliquots of the polymer solution so as to incorporate one part of antioxidant per 100 parts of polymerj By evaporation of the solvent, thin films of the polymer were prepared on sodium chloride discs (salt plates). These films were aged in air at 130C. and removed from the oven at l-hour intervals after the first V2 hour. Infrared spectra were run on these films and note made of the appearance of a carbonyl peak at 5.85 microns. The aging time required to causejthe'appearance of this peak, denoted the break time, is used as a'measure of the effectiveness as an antioxidant of the compound incorporated into the polymer, by comparison with the break time of the unstabilizedpolymer.

Added Stabilizer Break Time (hrs.)

None 0.5 Polygard* -l 2,6-di-t*butyl-p-cresol* l S-l v I3 S-2 15 8-3 ll S-4 8 S-5 8 S-6 ll 40 8-8 25 S-9 6 8-10 8 a commercial anti-oxidant) the level of 1 part per 100 parts of polybutadiene. The samples were aged at 130C. in a circulating air oven.

Added Stabilizer Break Time (hrs.)

None 0.25 S-l 4 S2 12 S-3 4 5'4 6 S-5 4 S-6 4 S-7 12 S-8 I 5 S40 7 These data show the ability of the compounds tested to stabilize polybutadiene against oxidation. Polyisoprene When milled at 300F., polyisoprene undergoes an oxidative degradation, the extent of which can be measured by the change in its Mooney viscosity. By the iny corporation of stabilizers, the rate of decrease in Moo- Addcd ney viscosity can be reduced. The data below show the m,- n cg surc ability of several compounds of this invention to retard S 95 the degradation of commercial polyisoprene during milling at 300F. The compounds tested were added at 5-4 s7 mu the level of 1 part per lOO parts of commercial polyiso- 2g 8g prenc- 5-8 85 9:: 5-9 78 96 ML-4 at 2l2F. after Milling at 300F. for timeT I v Added stabilizer T 0 10 mm mm 1. A composition comprising an elastomer derived from an alkadiene, said elastomer containing as stabig fi $5 31 ga I 5 lizer an effective amount of a polyphenolic product of 5-2 70 67 57 the following formula: s4 70 49 4] 5-5 69 '54 44 S46 70 66.5 34 5 s7 70 63.5 49 5-8 69 65 58 5-9 71 53.5 41.5 H i t M0 70 66 5- (H0),Ar-o Hs-sCH- r1ur 0H)x H LR R .l.

Natural Rubber The rubber stock in which the compounds were evaluated as antioxidants had the following composition: wherein Ar is aryl, Pale crepe m0 R is H or an alkyl group having l-4 carbon atoms. Lithopone 60 R is H or methyl, or is CH or --CH CH whiting g8 joined ortho to the non-phenolic Ar. Zinc laurate 0.5 x is 1 O1" 2, and hiumm Sulfide 6 n is a number from 1 to 5 wherein positions ortho and para to the phenolic hydroxy group cannot be fully The compounds tested were added at the level of l subsmuled, Posmons ortho to the Phenollc parts per 100 parts of pale crepe. Samples of the vulcadroxyl grollp cannot comm q h one ternary nized stocks were then aged in oxygen at 70C. for 48 alkyl Substlmenl and the p enol: rlng cannot have hours and the tensiles and elongations compared with an electron e gatlve substltufimthe values for the unaged stock. The percent of reten- A composltlon accordmg to Clalm 1 Where"! the tion of tensile (T/To) and of elongation (E/Eo) are elastomer is a diene rubbermeasures of the effectiveness of the compounds added 40 compfsltion wq s to Claim 1 wherein the as antioxidants stabilizer 1s 4,4-dlth1ob1s(beta-phenylethylene)- diphenol. 

1. A COMPOSITION COMPRISING AN ELASTOMER DERIVED FROM AN ALKADIENE, SAID ELASTOMER CONTAINING AS STABILIZER AN EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF A POLYPHENOLIC PRODUCT OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA:
 2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the elastomer is a diene rubber.
 3. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the stabilizer is 4,4''-dithiobis(beta-phenylethylene)-diphenol. 